GICF '12 PREVIEW: Joe Hullait 'Joe Hullait Introduces Dane Baptiste to The Least Racist City in Scotland'

Most important question first: Tell us about your show.

The show is two stand-ups, one a tiny bit non-white (me) and one black (Dane), performing back-to-back. Not literally though because if we performed back-to-back for real then one of us would have to be facing away from the audience, and who knows how we’d decide on who does that. If I made Dane stand with his back to the audience, it might begin to look like the EDL comedy show, whereas if I had my back to the audience people might think Dane is only facing the audience because he ticks a box. It’s an ethnic minefield really. 

What's going to be unique about this performance of your show?

I know that when I do race-related jokes elsewhere, people sometimes feel a bit guilty about laughing and look slightly on edge. Without meaning this in a malicious way, people in Glasgow are far more relaxed about taking the piss, which will make this show more fun for all involved. That’s also why I think Glasgow is the least racist city in Scotland. What truer way to fight racism than to embrace everybody as targets of your ridicule?

Due to a lawsuit, you're forced to rename your show. What do you call it?

Joe Hullait Introduces Dane Baptiste To The Most Litigious and Therefore Racist City in Scotland

If your show was a dear friend who had just died, what would you say about it in your eulogy?

Stick around because there’s always decent catering after a funeral, and The Halt has a great burger van across the road that also sell French Fancies.

What inspires you, other than comedy itself?

The idea of Mr Kipling being led against his will, at gunpoint, into a burger van and reduced to selling his cakes alongside greasy cheeseburgers in a lay-by Glasgow.

Where do you stand on Scottish Independence?

I’m part of a double act called The Jap Sigh with a guy called Ewan Denny, and we recently made a video called ‘Shit Scottish Guys Say to English Guys.’ When we made it we felt like we were really mocking the kind of English-hating Scottish person with a chip on their shoulder, but the hundreds of comments below the video suggest that people have taken it as some kind of pro-independence propaganda. I want independence to happen, but only so that I can get Scottish citizenship and then have a passport that doesn’t make extremists want to chop my head off when I visit particular countries.

Who would get your vote as president of an independent Scotland?

Jesus Christ because as the central figure of worship in Christianity he’d be forced to take sides on sectarian matters. I like it when a politician expresses an opinion. 

If you were organising a fantasy comedy night, who would you have as MC, support and main act?

The MC would be me, the support act would be The Jap Sigh and the main act would be Dane Baptiste, and it would happen on March the 22^nd and 23^rd in Glasgow.

Who else are you going to see during the Glasgow Festival?

Anywhere I can see Darren Connell, Chris Forbes and James Kirk. I recently worked on a BBC sitcom pilot with them and they’re all painfully funny. It’s not easy to laugh at another acts' jokes when you know them word for word, unless they are those guys.

Regional current affairs. Fill in the blank space: Rangers ____ LOL

Rangers are not a people I like to offend. Some of my best friends are Rangers. LOL